Flat Glass Lite Weight
The weight of a glass lite for a safe lift.
Example
You enter
- Width (in) 60
- Height (in) 40
- Actual thickness (in; 1/4" nominal float is 6 mm = 0.236 in) 0.25
- Identical panes (1 lite; 2 for an equal IGU) 1
You get
- Area 16.67 ft^2
- Weight 54.9
No published worked example is on file for this calculation. It is checked against a hand-worked derivation of its method and an independent reference test.
Details, formula, and sources
ScopeSoda-lime float glass runs about 13.2 lb per square foot per inch of thickness (158 lb/ft^3, NGA), so weight = 13.2 x thickness(in) x area(ft^2). A 60 x 40 in lite of 1/4" glass is 16.7 ft^2 and 55 lb -- past the ~50 lb one-person limit, so a two-person or vacuum-cup lift. Tempering does not change the weight; an insulating unit (IGU) is the sum of its lites. Sizes the lift and checks it against a suction lifter's rating. A handling estimate; the glass type, the lifter's rating, and safe-lifting practice govern.
Formula or tableweight_lb = 158 lb/ft^3 x area_ft2 x thickness_in/12 x panes; area_ft2 = width_in x height_in / 144; weight_per_ft2 = 158 x thickness_in/12 (~13.2 lb/ft^2 per inch).
Source and editionFlat glass lite weight (NGA Glazing Manual glass-weight table; ASTM C1036 flat glass), by name; the glass type and the lifter's rating govern.
Free accessThe density x volume weight is first-principles; the 158 lb/ft^3 (2531 kg/m^3) density is the one NGA Technical Paper FM01-08 (2020) gives for an exact weight (free PDF via ogs.ny.gov). Until 2026-10-02 this used 156.1 (SG 2.50) and called it universal.
What governsEstimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
API field nameswidth_in, height_in, thickness_in, panes, area_ft2, weight_lb
- Soda-lime density 158 lb/ft^3 (NGA FM01-08), ~13.2 lb/ft^2 per inch (published tables 13.0-13.1, ~1% tolerance)ASTM C1036 / NGA table
- Tempering / IGU tempering does not change the weight; an IGU is the sum of its litesNGA Glazing Manual